Praying in the “fourth watch”

The term fourth watch refers to the hours between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. In biblical times those keeping watch over cities or armies would change guard every three hours, and the fourth watch was the last one. These days, for many people that fourth watch is typically a time for sleep; however, for some it is a time for quiet reflection and for others a time of vigorous prayer.

The phrase appears in Matthew’s Gospel as he reports an occasion when Jesus’ disciples were in a ship and a storm came up (see Matthew 14:22–32). “In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. . . . Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” And as soon as Jesus entered the ship, “the wind ceased.” 

In the darkness, Jesus had prevailed over daunting physical elements, traveling a distance of 25 to 30 furlongs (see John 6:16–21), or 55 to 66 American football fields! His followers were astonished at this defiance of material laws and the effortlessness with which Jesus came to them to comfort them and still the storm.